THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE: an uneven but suspenseful mystery from MATT HAIG
That Matt Haig is a competent writer isn’t in dispute, but The Life Impossible doesn’t have the same emotional resonance as his earlier works.
Reviews
THE HOTEL AVOCADO: brilliantly crafted book sequel from BOB MORTIMER
The Hotel Avocado is a strong follow-up to its predecessor, delightfully lending itself to Bob Mortimer’s humour and skill with writing.
SABRINA CARPENTER: SHORT N’ SWEET is pop with a bold, unfiltered edge
Sabrina Carpenter has had the mainstream world in a frenzy awaiting the release of her sixth album, Short n' Sweet. The result is refreshing country-pop.
THE ART OF NOT EATING: a critical exploration of fasting and female oppression
Jessica Hamel-Akré’s The Art Of Not Eating is a book which readers might call critical and poignant, “especially right now”.
New poetry for August: dancing sea urchins, Norfolk Broads and fat cuckoo chicks
For her late-summer coverage of the best new poetry, Mab Jones selects new releases from Jane Hirshfield, Nisha Ramayya, Lorcán Black and Matt Howard.
THE POSTAL SERVICE & DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE unite for cult 00s indie comeback show
Celebrating a duet of 20th anniversaries, Cardiff played host to a double headliner from Ben Gibbard indie legends Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service.
Feelgood DOLLY PARTON musical HERE YOU COME AGAIN brings humour & glamour to Cardiff Bay
If you were expecting musical Here You Come Again in Cardiff Bay to be a biopic of Dolly Parton, you are in for a surprise – in a good way.
Dance pop icon BECKY HILL lights up gloomy skies on all-women line-up in Cardiff Bay
The Bay Series open-air concerts take place on Alexandra Head in Cardiff Bay, with British pop-dance icon Becky Hill gracing the 2024 edition’s Saturday night.
WALES BURLESQUE FESTIVAL celebrates body inclusivity with Future Icons opener
The 2024 Wales Burlesque Festival debuted at Chapter Arts Centre, with Friday’s Future Icons seeing performers from around the world competing for the title of ‘Future Icon’ 2024.
CONCERNING THE FUTURE OF SOULS: a curious examination of the inevitable by JOY WILLIAMS
A brief 176 pages make up Concerning The Future Of Souls: 99 Stories Of Azrael, a curious examination of the role of archangel Azrael by Joy Williams.
HIFI SEAN & DAVID MCALMONT team for soulful, energetic soundtrack for the end of summer
Hifi Sean & David McAlmont’s Daylight delivers soulful vocals and punchy beats, perfect for closing out the summer with style.
MELT-BANANA make ferocious yet familiar return with 3+5 after 11 years
Anyone discovering Melt-Banana for the first time on latest album 3+5 will doubtless have their wig knocked asunder by their sheer intensity.
MARK LANEGAN BAND release haunting anniversary tribute album that deepens the legacy
Mark Lanegan’s estate and Beggars Arkive have released Bubblegum XX, a 20th anniversary reissue of Lanegan’s 2004 album that makes the original even greater.
THE ALARM go on nostalgic dive into 80s pop, but does MUSIC TELEVISION hit the right notes?
Welsh pop-rockers The Alarm’s latest offering Music Television kicks off with a version of Dire Straits’ Money For Nothing, setting the tone for a hit and miss album.
FONTAINES D.C.’s ROMANCE: a bold, emotional journey set to become a modern classic
In their most prodigious evolution to date, Fontaines D.C. offer existential aphorisms on love with fourth album Romance.
New Welsh music you may have missed in August, gore & guttural vocals to post-death brain activity
The crannies of Wales keep on leaking out radioactively good sound for Noel Gardner's best new Welsh music column, with the last month or so yielding the following 10 releases.
MCFLY are on top form at huge Cardiff Bay concert
The Bay Series is back for the fourth year in a row and kicks off this year with a nostalgic, fun-filled evening courtesy of those lovely lads in McFly.
Crypto horror short stories galore in debut collection, YOU WILL GROW INTO THEM
Malcolm Devlin's debut short story collection You Will Grow Into Them has been recirculated, much to the delight o crypto-horror fans.
BLOOD BROTHERS: classic musical of hope in times of despair still a crowd-pleaser in Cardiff
After seeing the most recent Blood Brothers production at the WMC it’s easy to see why it’s called the “standing ovation musical.”
DESTROY BOYS’ FUNERAL SOUNDTRACK #4: a punk rock triumph with depth
Destroy Boys combine spiky punk energy, oversized alt-rock riffs and more contemplative-sounding sections on new album Funeral Soundtrack #4.
SCARLET REBELS meld hard rock & heartfelt lyrics on WHERE THE COLOURS MEET
Llanelli hard rock band Scarlet Rebels return with their third album, Where The Colours Meet, “a melting pot of lyrical themes and sonic elements."
POM POKO soar with CHAMPION: an energetic and inventive indie rock gem
Norwegian four-piece Pom Poko already have 2021’s excellent Cheater in their discography, and third album Champion should earn them more fans again.
WILL YOUNG blends classic pop, dance & Latin for sun-drenched LIGHT IT UP
Will Young blends pop classic and new, dance, and a certain Latin influence on his latest, sunny album, Light It Up.
TAYLOR SWIFT-inspired queer historical romance gets spicy second instalment: YOU’RE THE PROBLEM, IT’S YOU
The second instalment of a Taylor Swift-inspired novel duology, You’re The Problem, It’s You is a gorgeous romance, faultlessly written, with just the right amount of spice.